By the People: The Election of Barack Obama

Although the market has been flooded with biographical profiles celebrating the life and early presidency of Barack Obama, filmmakers Amy Rice and Alicia Sams' HBO-aired documentary adds something new to the mix. Taking viewers behind the campaign scenes starting back in 2006, By the People features extensive cinema vérité archival footage of Obama: walking through a metal detector, talking on the phone, joking with his staff, and preparing for appearances. Combined with timely narration and interviews with people on the street (“of course, after Bush, anybody could be president”), campaign workers, and speechwriter Jon Favreau, among others, the film also drops in on Obama's home life, as we witness Michelle and the girls playing dominoes and talking to Obama on the phone. Capturing Obama's journey from senator to president, this interesting and intimate glimpse into how the administration came to be culminates on election night in a hotel room. As the door closes to shut the cameras out, we hear Obama say, “All right guys…let's do this.” DVD extras include directors' audio commentary, a “making-of” featurette, additional scenes, and a DVD-ROM link to President Obama's inaugural speech. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (J. Williams-Wood)